HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 7, 2023) — Today Governor Josh Shapiro put forth his first proposed budget as Governor of Pennsylvania for the 2023-24 fiscal year that starts on July 1. Shapiro announced the administration’s proposed budget will utilize the projected $663 million in proceeds from the first year of RGGI auctions to go directly to communities for greenhouse gas abatement, energy efficiency, and clean energy programs to reduce air pollution. The budget also included $5.75 million to expand resources at the DEP to increase efficiency in permitting, air quality testing, and dam safety investigations.
The following is a reaction from Jackson Morris, senior adviser to the NRDC Action Fund:
“Governor Shapiro’s budget demonstrates that elections have consequences. Today he laid out that Pennsylvania is at a critical crossroads. We have a clear and present opportunity to supercharge the state’s clean energy economy by maximizing benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act and implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to build a cleaner, more equitable future for all Pennsylvanians. We look forward to working with the governor, General Assembly and diverse stakeholders to make that vision a reality.”